An email hit my screen at the exact perfect time. I had just been rejected for a teaching position and was feeling kind of down. The email was from a former student of mine four years ago who was applying to film school; he wanted to write scripts. He asked if I’d be so kind as to write him a letter of recommendation. “As someone who was my favorite teacher at MSU I know you would do a great job at this.“

Okay, I was hooked.

But he went on to write, “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine and you can help make it a reality.“

I didn’t remember a lot of his writing, just the way he acted and presented himself in class. He was a good guy, so I asked him to send me some current writing samples. He did and they dealt with Vietnam War movies and alternative family lifestyle movies, nicely, professionally written.

Here is what I came up with. I had to look up proper script formatting and this is as close to legit scriptease as I could get. I changed his name to protect his identity; that’s what they always say in movies.

INT. BEDROOM OF A 20-SOMETHING MALE – NIGHT

JASONsits hunched over his computer.

CLOSEUP ON SCREEN

“The Deer Hunter was a landmark in the history of war movies …”

CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN

A pot of coffee sputters to life. 11:00 pm flashes on the screen. Another late-night jolt of caffeine awaits the writer in the room next door.

NARRATOR
Jason Riley has gone through a lot in his life.

CUT BACK TO: INT. BEDROOM

JASONpushes back from computer. Hands on face in exasperation and tiredness.

NARRATOR
His writing career hasn’t yet gotten out of the starting block. His passion for the written word is matched only by his love of movies. Though neither one of them is paying the bills. He wants something more, something bigger. It’s part of his DNA, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to move forward. Then an idea strikes.

JASON back at keyboard.

CLOSEUP ON SCREEN

“Dear DePaul University …”

NARRATOR
Realizing he needs to learn more, to push further, he takes the plunge. His friends have told him it’s the perfect school for him.

CUT TO: FLASHBACK INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM – DAY

JASON is one of 25 gifted students commenting on a story written by a classmate.

NARRATOR
Back when I knew Jason, he was a smart, inquisitive, creative soul. I wanted to teach him creative writing for magazines, but Jason had bigger dreams. It’s not to say that he couldn’t write for magazines, it’s just movies were his calling. He lived amongst the characters he saw on screen or dreamed up in his colorful imagination.

NARRATOR
For a student like Jason, film school was an ideal fit. He knew it instinctually back then. His sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase were far better suited to the silver screen, than glossy magazine pages.

CUT TO: INT. OFFICE OF AN OLDER, QUITE HANDSOME MALE – AFTERNOON

RODNEY sits hunched over his computer.

CLOSEUP ON SCREEN

“Jason would be an ideal candidate …”

RODNEY pushes back from computer. Hands on face in exasperation and tiredness.

NARRATOR
That’s me trying to write a recommendation letter that describes Jason’s first-rate talent suitably enough. He’s a great person and would make a fine addition to your program.

CLOSEUP ON SCREEN

FADE OUT.

Before putting the letter in the mail to the University, I sent him a copy. If this were a Hollywood ending, there would be music playing as Jason walks up to accept his Best Screenplay award.

Here was his actual response, which was far more satisfying: “Rodney, that is beautiful. That will be the best letter they’ve ever read. I love this, if they reject me after reading this, I don’t want to go there.”